A Birthday Poem

My birthday today was filled with surprises! Thanks to my family and friends who made this particular birthday quite memorable.

A special thanks to film critic and author Richard Jack Smith for the poem below.  

The Best of Us: A Birthday Poem

Looking for an Ice Road Trucker?
Sign up Betty Jo Tucker.
She's the critic who tells it straight
Where other opinions emerge too late.

A love of musicals she has.
Of Shirley Temple, Busby Berkeley and jazz.
From her I have learned a lot
About the movies and things to spot.

She has a mastery of the poetic phrase
Her observations simply amaze.
An original voice
Because that's her choice.

That poem means a lot to me because Richard and I both include film poems in some of our movie reviews. In fact, Richard’s latest book is titled A Poet Among Critics,  and here’s what I wrote about that terrific book:

Richard Jack Smith writes poems with ease

about movies designed to please.

Plus even some he thinks fall flat

and keep him from tipping his hat.

A fine poet among critics,

rhymes and images he does mix.

His reviews earn two thumbs up

and a poetry Loving Cup!

***

Jane Bernard Loves March

I am very happy that Paperclips Magazine selected author Jane Bernard as their featured writer this month. Jane loves March! And she makes a great case for March in her wonderful article titled "Be Playful. It's March!" 

I love this month anyway (my birthday month and St. Pat's Day), but after reading Jane's article I feel even more fonder of March. Lots of good advice! Thanks, Jane.

Be sure to check out the article by clicking the link below. 

https://paperclipsmagazine.cld.bz/Issue-46-Reformation/90   

Seven Years of Showbiz Fun!

Congratulations to George Bettinger, a recent Friars Club inductee, for making fans very happy during the past seven years with his wonderful Mom and Pop Shop radio show. As one of his many, many fans, I will miss listening to this fun show, which aired on Dream Stream Radio and on Tune In Radio in Miramar, Florida, and was heard all over the globe. I call George “Mr. Showbiz” because of his multiple talents, which I am sure will come in handy in his new ventures.

I felt honored when George read my poem below on his last Mom and Pop Shop Show that was broadcast on Friday, February 23.        

Number One on my Showbiz list,

The Mom and Pop Shop will be missed.

We’re lucky to have heard this show

as all its fans most surely know.

George Bettinger, the great EmCee,

gave us music and jollity.

Impressionist extraordinaire,

he made us forget each day’s care.

Bogart, Benny, Groucho and more

George summoned for us to adore.

Great guests joined in from everywhere

to laugh, to chat with lots to share.

When Mom Lizette came on the show

we cheered because we love her so.

Thanks, Pop George, for all you’ve done.

Our hearts and friendship you have won.

For what comes next, our wish for you

is that it makes your dreams come true

I am also thankful to George Bettinger for being one of our most entertaining guests on Movie Addict Headquarters, my own radio show, and for his enthusiastic support of that show. Of course, I never knew for sure who he planned to bring along with him: W.C. Fields, Boris Karloff, Bela Lugosi, etc. And he gave a delightfully amusing performance in CAKE: A Love Story, a short film based on It Had To Be Us – the romantic memoir my husband and I co-wrote under the pen names of Harry and Elizabeth Lawrence. In fact, George and the lovely Lizette Amado-Bettinger assumed the roles of Harry and Elizabeth during one MAHQ episode where they read the first chapter of that book for our BlogTalkRadio listeners. Mom and Pop were both great!  

Please keep on being Mr. Showbiz, George Bettinger.